Viewfinder signals for photographic cameras



0d l0 1951 A. G. sTlMsoN Erm. 3,003,389

ummm srcmus Foa Puo'rocnmuc cnmus med Feb. a, 1961 Figa United States Patenti@ 3,003,389 vmwmNnER srGNALsy Fon PHo'roG t to Eastman KodnkCompany, Rochester,

NX., a corporation of New Jersey y y Filed Feb. 8, 1961, Ser. o. 87,930

s claims. (cias- 16) The present invention relates to photographic cameras ha ness is below the normal photographic range for the In prior art cameras having automatic exposure control systems,'excessively low scnebrighmessfhas'been indicated in the viewfinder rin several Waya'including the appearance or disappearance of a spot of light in the viewnder. v This spot of light has been produced vgen-r erally by scene light which is transmitted into rthe view-LA finder along a path which maybe blockedorunblocked by onelor more members moved by the exposure control system. However, in low-light situations it is4 obvious that at the very time the signal'is required, the source ofthe signal isweakest; consequently, the appearance or disappearance of the spot of light at the critical `time tends to go unnoticed by the camera operator..

AllenGmd Gerald li'.A Pickens, Rochester, N.Y.,

automatic exposure'control` systems and more y partiqxlm'ly'concerns an improved viewfinder signal for to rthe camera operator when the scene brightrotation of the shutter member.y Even at normal shutter' through one or more reflecting surfaces, suda vas formed in a Lucite'rod or the like, indicatedk generallyat 42.1 Mirrors 40 and 41 may be of diterentcolors tov indicate p whether-.the flickering signal refers to inadequatenorexcessive light for exposing the `ilm. This light.l beam is interrupted by the periphery of shutter 1,8 during each speeds, which produce satisfactory images on `a lm strip 37 without dicker, the foregoing structure has been found to produce `a' noticeable flicker in the light beam 1from aperture 43:8', as seen inthe Therefore',

` the shutterperiphery forms a modulator for-the beam It is therefore a primary object of thepresent -invention to renderv aspot of light in the viewfndermore visible to the camera operator than been` the case in prior art low-light signals. This Objectis accomplished in accordance `with the invention, by producing a icker in the spot of light,.which has been found to' befgar more noticeable than a steady spot of light.

It is afurther object of the invention to transmit light `from 4the exterior of a camera into thev viewfinder of the rcamera along a path through which a portion of a rotating shutter member passes, in order to produce flicker in the light beam.

yOther' objects of the invention will appear from the brightness, for example by a member moving in synchrofollowingdescniption, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a side view of the essential elements of a camera incorporating the present invention, partly in section; t

FIG. 2 isa front view of one form of shutter uses-bl rwithy the invention; n

IFIG. 3 is a front view of a form of diaphragm disk that may be employedfwith the invention; and

PIG. 4 is a front view of a second form of shutter that may be employed with the invention.

Referring to FIG. l, the invention is illustrated in the environment of a motion picture camera having a taking lens axis l0 onwhich isarranged a taking lens 12 mounted in an aperture 14 of fa camera wall 16. Also arranged on the taking lens axis 10 is an opaque shutter member 18, which is rotatable inr any well known manner about an axis 20. Y A front view of the shuttter is shown in FIG. 2, which shows a'cutout section 21 that is employed to produce shutter action during rotation of member 18.

A diaphragm memberzz (FIGS. l and 3') is arranged for rotationabout an axis 2.4 of the pivoted coil 26 of a` measuring instrument 28.y A tear drop aperture 23 in diaphragm disk 22 is disposed for arcuate movement with .the disk throughy a path such that the lens axis 10 passes through `the aperture. Coil 26a-is connected by leads 30 and *32 to a photoeell 34, which is disposed in an aperture 36 of the camera wall 16 `for illumination by scene Light from the exterior of the camera passes through ly moving member that may be employed yto carry the beam-modulating surfaceor device. rIt will also be understood thatv ythe illustrated diaphragm vane or disk 22jis merely a preferred form of control member movable in'an automatic exposure vcontrol systeml asga fuuc-w tionof scene brightness and carrying reflecting surfaces,

or mirrors 40 and 41. `These reflecting surfaces can be carried `--by any member moving as a function of `scene nism with the diaphragm vane. Q

If it is desired to make the signal beam in the 'viewfinder flicker more slowly and perhaps more noticeably, a formof shutter illustrated in FIG. 4r may be employed. This shutter has a plurality of apertures, such as 46, arranged to cross the lens `axis 10. The shutter rotates at such speed that each of the apertures 46 exposes a single frame of film, all in a manner lwell known in the art. A single peripheral aperture 48 on the shutter member 44 is arranged to intercept the light beam passing from the exterior of the camera through aperture 38, and thereby successfully blocks and transmits that light beam at `a lower -icker frequency than that causedr by the cutout portion 21of the shutter member 18shown in FIG. 2. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the flicker/frequency is one-third theframe frequency.

'Ihenvention has been described in detail withv particular reference to preferredr embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim: y

l. In a, camera having a viewfinder and having an automaticiexposure control system for regulating the exposure of photographic tlmvin `said camerafautomatically, said control system including a diaphragm*k vane moved as a function of scene brightness, means for indicating in said/viewfinder a predetermined low Vlevel ofr scene brightness, said means comprising: means for` a light beam from the exterior of said v l 'y yPatented Oct. l0, 1961k 3 Y finden said transmitting means including a Vrellecting member supported by said diaphragm vane for movement therewith and disposed in said path for reecting said-lightbeam only when the position of. said diaphragm vane corresponds to said low level of scene brightness; andv arotatable shutter member having respective cut-out and opaque portions disposed'for sequentiallcy'clicmovement` l'across said path for interrupting said light beamf cyclically to produce a visible icker in said beam.

2. The indicating means defined in claim l, wherein said camera includes a front cover and wherein said transmitting means includes an aperture in said cover through which said light beam enters the camera in a direction toward the position of said reecting member when said diaphragm vane occupies its position correspending tovsaid low level of scene brightness, and wherein said transmitting means further includes a light-conductingl member disposed in said camera for receiving thelight beam reflected from said reflecting member andfor transmitting s-aid beam rearwardlyy into saidy view iinder. 1 Y

3. The indicating means defined in claim l, wherein said camera has a taking lens disposed on an axis and wherein said shutter member has only one cut-out portion movable across said path and has `a pluralityk of taking apertures movable across said axis. Y

4. The indicating means defined in claim 1, with a second rellecting member supportedV by said diaphragm vane for movement therewith and disposed in said path for rellecting said light beam only when thepositionV of said diaphragm vane corresponds to a predetermined high level of scene brightness.

5. VVThe indicating means defined in claim 4, wherein said two reilecting members are of different colors.

6. In a camera having a viewfinder and having an automatic exposure control system for regulating the exposure of photographic iilm in said camera automatically,`

said control system including a control member moved as a function of scene brightness, means for indicating in said viewfinder a predetermined low level of scene brightness, said means comprising: means for transmitting a light beam from the exterior of said camera through a predetermined path rearwardly into said viewnder, whereby said beam is visible in said viewfinder, said means inclu-ding a reilecting member coupled to said control, member for movement in synchronism therewith and disposed in said path for reflecting said light beamonly when the position of said control member corresponds to said low level of scene brightness; and a modulating rnemJber having a light-modulating portion disposed `for cyclic movement. across said path for interruptingV said light. beam cyclically to produce` a visible iiicker in said beam.

7. The indicating means defined in claim 6 wherein.

said camera includes a front cover and 'wherein said,

transmitting means includes an aperture in said` cover through which said light beam enters the camerain a direction toward the position of said reilecting member. 'when said control member occupies its position corresponding to said low level of scene` brightness, and wherein said transmitting means further includes a lightconducting member disposedin said camera for receiving the light beam reflected from said reflecting member and for transmitting said beam rearwardly into` said viewiinder.

8. The indicating means defined in claim 6, with a second reilecting member coupled to said control member for movement in synchronism therewith and disposed in, said path for reilecting s-aid light beam only when the,` position of said control member corresponds to a predeterminedhigh level of scene brightness.

9. 'I'he indicating means defined in claim `8, wherein said two reflecting members are of different colors.

No references cited. 

